Transcript The Higher Sports Leader Awards

Older People &
Sport
Ageing by numbers
 95 Age of the worlds
oldest triplets, Faith, Hope
& Charity Cardwell
 99 age of the world’s
oldest parachutist,
Hildegarde Ferrera
 173 percentage rise in US
of over 60’s injured after
taking up rollerblading,
aerobics or weights
188,000 number of
women in their
eighties
89,000 projected
number of men in their
nineties by 2001
324,000 projected
number of women in
their 90’s by 2001
Information adapted from the
Guardian Oct.’98 N. Ascherson
Ageing
10 million people in the UK are over 65 years old. The latest projections are
for 5½ million more elderly people in 20 years time and the number will have
nearly doubled to around 19 million by 2050.
Percentage of persons aged 65 and over
Life Expectancy in Britain – 81
Males – 79.5
Females – 82.5
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_258607.pdf
Ageing – is the change in function of organs and systems
Functional Age includes:
Biological age – refers to physiological processes of the
body, the underlying mechanisms responsible for
structural & functional changes changes that characterise
advancing age.
Psychological age – refers to one’s capability of
cognitive functioning, including self – esteem as well as
learning and memory.
Social Age - refers to society’s perception of what is
acceptable behaviour of an older person
What changes take place?
Skeletal
Muscular
Cardio-respiratory
Nervous
Changes associated with ageing –
the skeletal system
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Change in bones
Reduced bone mass and bone density
Reduced bone mineral content
Changes in joints
Reduced water content and harder, drier cartilage
Thinner intervetebral discs
Increased synovial fluid stickiness
Reduced ligament strength
Reduced ligament and tendon pliability
Reduced range and ease of movement
Increased risk of injury
Changes associated with ageing The muscular system
 Reduced muscle mass
 Reduced number and size of muscle fibres
 Fewer fast twitch fibres
 Reduced number of capillaries
 Reduced number of motor cells
 Resulting in reduced muscular strength, power and
endurance
 More easily fatigued
Changes associated with ageing –
the cardio-respiratory system
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Reduced heart mass
Decrease nervous stimulation of the heart
Increased furring and hardening of the arteries
Reduced numbers of capillaries
Decreased maximum heart rate
Reduced cardiac output and stroke volume
Reduced body temperature control
Tire more quickly, recover less quickly
Can overheat rapidly
Changes associated with ageing – the
nervous system
 Fewer brain cells controlling movement
 Fewer and reduced speed of messages
 Reduction in balance mechanisms
 Reduced vision and hearing
 Slower information processing time
 Slower reaction time
 Poorer short term memory
 Impaired balance
Peak endurance performance is maintained until ~35 years of age, followed by
modest decreases until 50–60 years of age, with progressively steeper declines
thereafter.
(J Physiol. 2008 January 1; 586(Pt 1): 55–63.
Published online 2007 August 23. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.141879)
Eric Jones
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2005 Kozo Haraguchi of Japan set a new age-group
record in the 100 m dash of 21.69 s at the age of 95.
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2003 Ed Whitlock of Canada became the oldest
person to break 3 h in marathon at the age of 73
Benefits of Exercise for Older People
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Health
Social
Psychological
Health benefits of physical activity for
older people
 Prevention and management of CHD and stroke
 Prevention and management of type II Diabetes
 Management of weight and obesity
 Prevention of Osteoporosis
 Reduction of accidental falls
 Prevention of (colon) cancer
 Improvement in length and depth of sleep
 Even when taken up in later life
Psychological benefits of physical
activity for older people
 Reduction in stress and anxiety and improvement in
overall psychological well-being.
 Reduction in depression
 Improvements in cognitive function, self-esteem and self
worth.
 Improvements in perception of health
 A reduction of loneliness and isolation
 Enhanced feeling of worth to society
Social benefits of physical activity for
older people
Promotion of a more positive and active image of
older people by :Increased contribution to society by older people
Enhanced social integration, formation of new
friendships and the widening of social networks
Role maintenance and new role acquisition
Maintenance of caring skills
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
EXERCISE
SPORT LEISURE
ACTIVITIES
DANCE
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITES
OTHERS eg
ACTIVE LIVING
AIMS OF EXERCISE SESSION
 Promote circulation
 Stimulate movement
 Articulate specific
movement response
 Broaden the range of
movement at each joint
 Improve posture
 Improve motor skills
 Improve performance of
daily functions
 Increase body awareness
 Increase awareness /
interaction with others
 Engage attention
 Increase daily activity
levels
 Increase enjoyment
Exercise journal jan/feb ’99 S.Dinan